]]>Probably thinking that Stanley Kubrick’s version was good, but not great, Steven Soderbergh has recut 2001: A Space Odyssey down to a lean 110 minutes, and messed with some of the music in the film as well. However, there’s still no Pitbull song on the soundtrack, so let’s just call this a beta version of the film. He’s done similar things with Heaven’s Gate and recently remade Raiders of the Lost Ark as a silent film.

Soderbergh screened the film three times in 2014, so even the biggest fan of the film would have deduced he was up to something. He said about the film, “Maybe this is what happens when you spend too much time with a movie: You start thinking about it when it’s not around, and then you start wanting to touch it.”

Well, when you’re Steven Soderbergh, there’s no “no hands rule” when it comes to masterpieces, so you get to go ahead and put talking dogs into Gone with the Wind, and put a CGI propeller beanie on Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

]]>http://www.screenjunkies.com/movies/movie-news/steven-soderbergh-went-ahead-recut-2001-space-odyssey/feed/0‘The Graduate’ Director Mike Nichols Passes Away at 83http://www.screenjunkies.com/tv/tv-news/the-graduate-director-mike-nichols-passes-away-at-83/
http://www.screenjunkies.com/tv/tv-news/the-graduate-director-mike-nichols-passes-away-at-83/#commentsThu, 20 Nov 2014 16:35:46 +0000http://www.screenjunkies.com/?p=267524"He was a true visionary, winning the highest honors in the arts for his work as a director, writer, producer and comic and was one of a tiny few to win the EGOT — an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony in his lifetime."

Academy Award-winning director and nine time Tony winner Mike Nichols has passed away from a sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 83, ABC News reports.

Perhaps best known as the man behind such films as The Graduate andThe Birdcage, Nichols actually broke into the mainstream as a comic when he and partner Elaine May scored the “Best Comedy Album” Grammy in 1961. It would be the first of many awards for Nichols, who aside from receiving the “Best Director” Oscar for The Graduate, earned a Golden Globe Award (also for The Graduate), an AFI Lifetime Achievement Award, and a tribute at the 2003 Kennedy Center Honors. At the age of 81, Nichols was also awarded the Tony for “Best Direction of a Play” for his revival of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, which starred the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. That’s right, Nichols was an EGOTer.

Nichols began his directorial career with the 1966 adaptation of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, which scored 5 Academy Awards and grossed 14.5 million dollars. It would be the first of many successes for Nichols, whose body of work would also include such massive hits as Wormwood, Working Girl, and Charlie Wilson’s War, his final picture.

After Wilson’s War, Nichols’ returned to Broadway — where it was announced that he was to direct Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz in a Broadway revival of Harold Pinter’s Betrayal — and eventually, to television. Having won Emmys for his direction of both Wit and Angels in America in 2001 and 2004, respectively, he was set to reunite with Silkwood star Meryl Streep for an upcoming HBO miniseries called Master Class.

Anyone who’s ever taken a film studies class has likely written a few words about The Graduate, whose satirical takedown of American society (and iconic soundtrack from Simon & Garfunkel) made it an instant hit among critics and fans alike and helped kickstart the “Hollywood Revival” between the mid-60’s and 70’s. The film also holds the honor of containing the 42nd most iconic movie quote in film history, “Plastics,” according to AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movie Quotes countdown.

“He was a true visionary, winning the highest honors in the arts for his work as a director, writer, producer and comic and was one of a tiny few to win the EGOT — an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony in his lifetime,” ABC News President James Goldston said in the statement. “No one was more passionate about his craft than Mike.”

]]>David Fincher is making critical waves yet again with today’s release of Gone Girl in theaters. While Fincher is considered one of the foremost auteurs in popular cinema today, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what makes him both different and better than many of his peers.

There isn’t a quick and easy explanation, but if you have seven minutes to dive into this, you’ll see not just what makes the director of Fight Club and Se7en stand apart from many other so-called “gritty” directors. It’s as much about his restraint and limited use of gimmicks as it his gravitation towards strong scripts.

Without giving too much aways, you’ll learn here how Fincher uses zooms, close-ups, and composition to convey a visual message as powerful as the scripted ones.

And if you don’t like David Fincher’s work, there’s still plenty to study and learn what goes into a seemingly simple shot. Kudos to the creator, Tony Szhou, for his work here.

]]>With Jack Goes Boating underneath his directing belt, Philip Seymour Hoffman is once again stepping behind the camera, and this time the project will appeal to not only boating enthusiasts. THR reports Hoffman will direct Ezekial Moss, a supernatural drama that appeared on the 2011 Black List.

The story centers on a mysterious stranger who can speak to the dead. His arrival in a small town has a profound effect on the residents, particularly a widow and her young son. No word yet whether or not Hoffman will play the role of the mysterious ghost whisperer. If so, he’s setting himself up for failure. Those are some mighty big shoes to fill.

]]>Did you know that David Arquette is a director? I didn’t. I mean, a lot of actors have dabbled with directing, so I’m not shocked, so whatever! Good on you, Arqy! That’s what I’m going to call him from now on.

ANYWAY, the former Mr. Cox, soon to be seen in Scream 4, will be helming the 3D psychological thriller Glutton, penned by Kenny Yakkel, which has been described as being similar to Misery. The film will be produced by Stan Spry Cameron Larson, R. Scott Reid, R. Scott Reid, Steve Ecclesine and Norween Yakkel, and executive produced by Arquette’s Coquette Productions. Glutton starts shooting in July in Canada. Ill be waiting at my local Redbox until further notice. (Variety)

]]>http://www.screenjunkies.com/movies/movie-news/david-arquette-will-direct-a-movie-called-glutton/feed/0arquette‘Clash of the Titans II’ has a Director: Jonathan Liebesmanhttp://www.screenjunkies.com/movies/movie-news/clash-of-the-titans-ii-has-a-director-jonathan-liebesman/
http://www.screenjunkies.com/movies/movie-news/clash-of-the-titans-ii-has-a-director-jonathan-liebesman/#commentsWed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000Jonathan Liebesman will direct Clash of the Titans II, Coming Soon is reporting. Liebesman, who also directed the upcoming Battle: Los Angeles, will most likely be joined by Sam Worthington and Gemma Arterton, who both starred in the first installment. Unlike the first film, which was retrofitted, the sequel will be shot entirely in 3D. Also, unlike the first film, Clash of the Titans II will supposedly have a plot mapped out before shooting begins.

(Spoiler Alert) Hopefully this sequel will avoid some of the pitfalls of its predecessor. For example, one of the worst scenes from Clash of the Titans was the ending, when Zeus randomly resurrected a character who had died earlier in the film. Resurrection? Talk about an unbelievable cop out? No wonder no one worships Zeus anymore.

Jonathan Liebesman will direct Clash of the Titans II, Coming Soon is reporting. Liebesman, who also directed the upcoming Battle: Los Angeles, will most likely be joined by Sam Worthington and Gemma Arterton, who both starred in the first installment. Unlike the first film, which was retrofitted, the sequel will be shot entirely in 3D. Also, unlike the first film, Clash of the Titans II will supposedly have a plot mapped out before shooting begins.

(Spoiler Alert) Hopefully this sequel will avoid some of the pitfalls of its predecessor. For example, one of the worst scenes from Clash of the Titans was the ending, when Zeus randomly resurrected a character who had died earlier in the film. Resurrection? Talk about an unbelievabl cop out? No wonder no one worships Zeus anymore.

]]>http://www.screenjunkies.com/movies/movie-news/clash-of-the-titans-ii-has-a-director-jonathan-liebesman/feed/0JOHN HUGHES HAS DIEDhttp://www.screenjunkies.com/movies/movie-news/john-hughes-has-died/
http://www.screenjunkies.com/movies/movie-news/john-hughes-has-died/#commentsWed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000The director responsible for a string of classics passed away yesterday. John Hughes reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack while visiting family in Manhattan. He was 59. Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Breakfast Club, and Sixteen Candles (amongst others) will always be held in high regard around here. Screen Junkies would like to pass on our condolescences to the family and friends of Mr. Hughes. (AP)Don't you forget about these morning links...Where the Where The Wild Things Are second trailer is. (First Showing)Bryan Singer reteams with Syfy. (Latino Review)Fingers crossed! Louis C.K. may have a new show. (Variety)Galifianakis not too eager about Hangover 2. (IGN)Dethklok coming to a city near you. (TV Squad)

The director responsible for a string of classics passed away yesterday. John Hughes reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack while visiting family in Manhattan. He was 59. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Breakfast Club, and Sixteen Candles (amongst others) will always be held in high regard around here. Screen Junkies would like to pass on our condolescences to the family and friends of Mr. Hughes. (AP)

Don’t you forget about these morning links…

Where the Where The Wild Things Are second trailer is. (First Showing)